resepect for carvin and G&L

[jadams71]

Here is my question. Why is it that carvin and G&L, two manufactures that build very very nice guitars don't get the respect of companies like fender and Gibson who are basically the same thing they have been for the last number of years. I own a G&L tribute comanche and I think it is every bite if not better then my 93 fender with lace sensor pick ups. The resale on carvin and G&L's is so low and I wonder why being that they are such great insturments and american made (minus the tribute sereies).

 

[D.G.]

 

[GCDEF]

Carvin and G&L get a lot of respect on these boards. I'm in the minority in not being happy with my Carvins and everybody likes G&L. They don't sell as much because you don't see as many iconic players using them as the big brands and Carvin's business model isn't for everybody.

 

[curtis]

if the good G&L's stay cheap then its all good for players.

I've got an asat classic hollowbody, s/burst with the killer big fat single coils, rosewood board and birds eye neck... and its about the best electric I've ever played...or at least my favourite (and I've played quite a lot of different guitars in 12+ yrs full time guitar repair)

set of 11's, tuned down half step....ouch

 

[XKnight]

G&L gets lots of respect on TGP. As for resale, it is what it is. Same with Heritage.

 

[Moctzal]

Fender and Gibson are big, recognizable names. G&L and Carvin aren't (at least in comparison). That's really what it boils down to IMO. I don't mind really, since buying used G&L guitars is a great value and if they were better know they'd get more expensive used...

 

[frankencat]

I love and respect them both.

 

[rust_in_peace]

I love both companies, and am happy about the fact that the resale value is low. You can find some great deals on both.

 

[ducatisteve]

I really like both, and look forward to ordering a new Carvin this year. Resale be damned, I want what I want!

 

[chrisr777]

Never actually played one of their guitars, but I do have a lot of respect for Carvin.

 

[dspellman]

I dunno -- I've got half a dozen Carvins, some of which date to the late '80's. I think they're just way smaller and a lot less known than gibson and fender. They're also less expensive than Fenders and Gibsons, and for some folks that necessarily translates to not as good. They also don't spend a lot of their customers' money in big endorsement deals or monster marketing campaigns, so the newbies don't know about them. They're paying attention to their current fave's sig model.

Oh well - their loss.

 

[Presc]

They do get respect among many players who are serious about gear.

For the average guy who doesn't read internet forums and only shops at Guitar Center or non-guitar players, they might not ring a bell like Fender, Gibson, etc do. But those who know and have played them seem to give them their due

 

[GuitarFan]

There are a few other reasons to consider as well...

1) Many guitarists began playing (and still do) because of their heroes (aren't we all kids at heart!), so like to try and recrease the same sound or magic, often by by using similar equipment. So, many will doggedly hold to a rigid view of what equipment is "cool" based upon their influences.

2) Carvin's sales/build process places a lot of responsibility on the player to know exactly what he/she is choosing, and why. Without enough playing experience and understanding of how the specs influence one another, it is fairly easy to build a very high quality but "blah" guitar. My first "serious" guitar was a Carvin, for the reason that the other big companies offered few models left handed. The guitar was remarkably well built, but as I became a more experienced and educated player, I realized I would have built it differently. So, I ended up selling it. Seems to me that there are a LOT of used Carvin's out there like this, which muddies the market with cast off, poorly "designed" models. This could correlate to poor resale value (which truthfully I've not found to be much different than Fender unless you've built something REALLY odd). Now, after 15 years of playing a few things and being a "Fender" man, I'm planning on going back to Carvin to build another guitar, this time knowing exactly what I'm looking for. The fit, finish and options were much better for the same price; only now, I know what I really want.

 

[geekocaster]

The damn headstocks just don't turn me on

 

[ajchance]

I actually had my Carvin up for sale until I pulled it out again, raised the pickups a bit, and played it nightly the past week at our VBS at church. Cancelled the auction and plan on keeping it. I love the neck profile, the heavy frets, and, yes, even the much-maligned Carvin pickups. I could do with another headstock shape, though...

 

[Jef Bardsley]

I agree with Guitarfan. Both offer a lot of options to customise things, and the result isn't always a popular combination. Also, the whole idea of a custom guitar is choosing the options yourself. People are willing to pay for this and wait for it, so it can be easier to sell a custom order for a new G&L than a used one that's in their hands.

 

[bismark]

Carvin and G&L get lots of respect here, in TGP land. But not so for the "mainstream" crowd out there. For non-guitarist however, I bet they have never heard of 'em.

 

[metalman]

It's brand recognition. They aren't sold in stores (as far as I know) so they don't get as much exposure. And the people working in the stores certainly aren't going to be praising something they don't sell.

 

[Rama]

I've been noticing used prices going up for both...especially G&L.

 

[jcs]

I dont see any steals on G&L guitars used at all, though i stupidly passed up on an 80s Strat style many years ago for cheap, it was robin egg blue and i didnt have extra cash at the time, so i passed that day and the next day i called and it was gone.

That is the last super cheap G&L i have seen.

I do see Carvins from time to time for $200-300 but most have weird designs and the neck shapes i dont care for.